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25. Record Steps To Reproduce A Problem

Trying to describe a problem to someone in
technical support can be quite frustrating,
especially if you have limited technical knowledge.
It would be far simpler, for problems that can be
regularly reproduced, if you could actually record
what is happening and then sent the relevant report
to, say Microsoft.

For the first time in Windows 7 Microsoft have
actually incorporated this feature, although, sadly,
it is rather hidden.

To use the feature, better known as the Problem
Step Recorder, proceed as follows:

Click the Start button.

On the Start menu type: psr.exe into the
search box and Press Enter.

The Problem Steps Recorder will now open.

To begin recording press the Record button
and then start to reproduce your original
problem. Problem Steps Recorder will take a
series of screen shots and will detail what you
are doing on-screen giving details of mouse and
keyboard. Once you have all the relevant details
of your problem recorded then, Click the Stop
Record button.

Problem Steps Recorder will automatically
offer to save the file as a Zip file for you.

All you have to do is give the file a name
and press the Save button.

You can open the Zipped file and view the
contents in Internet Explorer. This file can
then be sent to technical support or whoever is
helping you with your problem.